Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/128

PRATT, Daniel Durwin, senator, b. in Paler- mo, Me., 20 Oct., 1818; d. in Logansport, Ind., 17 June, 1877. When he was a child his parents re- moved to New York. He was graduated at Hamil- ton college in 1831, and in 1832 engaged in teach- ing in Indiana. In 1834 he went to Indianapolis ami was rinployed in the office of the secretary of state, studied law. and in 183(5 settled in Lo;;ans- port, where he began the practice of his profri ion. In 1851 and 1853 he was elected to the legislature, and he was a delegate to the Chicago National Re- publican convention of 1860, also acting as its principal secretary. He was elected to congress from Indiana in 1868, but before taking his seat was chosen U. S. senator from that state to suc- ceed Thomas A. Hendricks, and served from 4 March, 1869, till 3 March. 1875. In 1875 he was appointed commissioner of internal revenue, which office he resigned in July, 1876.

PRATT. Daniel Johnson, educator, b. in e-tmoivland, Uneida CO., N. Y., 8 March. 1S27: d. in All. any. N. Y., 12 Sept., 1884. He was gradu- ated at Hamilton college in 1851, and was for ten years principal of Fredonia academy. He after- ward became assistant secretary of the regents of the University of the state of Is T ew York. He was one of the originators of the annual convocation of the professors in the colleges and academies of New York. In addition to many reports upon educa- tional subjects, he published " Biographical No- tice of Peter Wraxall" (Albany. 1870), and "An- nals of Public Education in the State of New York, 1626-1746" (Albany, 1882). and was tin- au- thor of the greater part of the History of the Boundaries of the State of New York " (2 vols.), presented to the legislature as a report by the re- gents of the university.

PRATT. Enoch, clergyman, b. in Middlebor- oii'Ji. Mass., in 17S1 ; d. inBrewster, Mass., 2 Feb., 1860. He was graduated at Brown university in 1803, and ordained, 28 Oct., 1807. as pastor of the church at Barnstable, Mass., where he remained till his resignation in 1837. He was author of a " His- tory of Eastham, Wellfleet. and Orleans. Mass., 1644-1844" (Yarmouth. 1844).

PRATT, Enoch, philanthropist, b. in North Middleborough. Ma-s.. Ill Sept.. 180S; d. in Tivoli, Ind.. 17 Sept.'. IS'Ki. He left school at the age of tilt*. 'ii, and soon afterward secured a place in a commercial house in Boston. In 1831 Mr. Pratt re- moved to Bal- timore and es- tablished him- self as a com- mission mer- i haul. He af- terward found- ed the whole- sale iron house of Pratt and Keith, and la- ter that of Enoch Pratt and Brother, but gave much of his time to financial enter- prises of a pub-

lic nature. He

had been director and president of various corporations, presi- dent of the House of reformation and instruc- tion for colored children at Cheltenham, which he founded, and to which he gave 730 acres of his farm as a site, and president of the Maryland school for the deaf and dumb at Frederick, which he es- t abb-lied. In 1877 he was elected by the city councils of Baltimore as finance commissioner. In 1*07 -Mr. Pratt had endowed an academy in North Middleborough, his native city, in the sum of $30,- 000. On 21 Jan., 1882, Mr. Pratt gave notice to the government of the city of Baltimore of his purpose to establish a tree circulating library, to be called the Enoch Pratt free library of the city of Balti- more, on certain conditions of co-operation on the part of the city, which were promptly accepted. I le proceeded immediately toerect fire-proof build- ings for the library (see illustration) and four branches, which were completed and conveyed to the city, 2 July, 1883. Mr. Pratt intended to' spend $1,000,000, but the amount had reached $1,145.- 833.33 at the completion of the buildings. The library was formally opened on 4 Jan., 1886. PRATT, Matthew, artist, b. in Philadelphia, 23 Sept.. 1734 : d. there, 9 Jan., 1805. He received a common-school education, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to his uncle, James Claypoole, from whom he, learned "all the different branches of the painting business, particularly portrait- painting." He remained in Philadelphia until 1757. when he embarked for Jamaica on some mer- cantile enterprise. The following year he returned home, and began to pursue regularly the profes- sion of a portrait-painter. About i764 he went to England and became the pupil of Benjamin Ve-i. Four years were spent there in study and the practice of his profession, after which he re- t M rued to Philadelphia. He made another trip abroad in 1770, visiting Ireland and England, and after that did not leave his native city again. His portraits, in the execution of which he proved him- self an artist of undoubted talent, include those of Rev. Archdeacon Mann, of Dublin, the Duke of Portland, the Duchess of Manchester, Gov. Andrew Hamilton, and Gov. Cadwalader Colden, of New York (1772). He painted also " The London School of Artists," which Thomas Sully pronounced well executed. Pratt, probably finding portrait-painting not sufficiently remunerative, occupied himself at intervals with the painting of signs. Many of his contemporaries have attested the fine execution of these sign-boards.

PRATT, Parley Parker. Mormon apostle, b. in Burlington, N. Y.. 12 April, 1807: d. near Van Buren. Ark.. 13 May, 1857. He joined the Mormon church in 1830. and was a member, in 1835, of the first quorum of the twelve apostles. Mr. Pratt was one of the earliest Mormon missionaries that travelled from the Atlantic seaboard to the western frontiers of Missouri, and among his converts as John Taylor. In 1840 he was sent on a mission to England, and again in 1846. He was one of the pioneers to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and in 1847 explored Utah lake and valley; also Cedar and Tooede valleys, and Parley's Canon and Parley'- Peak, east of Salt Lake valley, were named after him, as he explored them in 18'40 and worked a road up the canon. He visited the Pacific i oast in 1851 and 1854 on missions, and set out on a similar expedition to the eastern states in September, 1856, but was as-as-iuatcd while passing through Arkansas. Some of Mr. Pratt 's writings were pronounced by Joseph Smith to be standard works of the church. He established the "Millennial Star" in Manchester, Kn^land. and was its editor during 1S40. It is still published. Mr. Pratt was the author of numerous pamphlets, among which are "An Appeal to the State of New York." " Immortality of the Body." " Fountain of Knowledge," " Intelligence and Affection," " The